Formation subs in?

[jclentzthadon]

Do we have true formation subs? Not the right stick sub packages, but the formation subs you could do from the interface. It's been out for at least a couple-few years, maybe longer. Really a good thig to have in te game if they put it in.

I searched and didn't see anything on this. Hope it's in there and didn't know if someone had the info.

[Senator Palmer]

Re: Formation subs in?

This is a question I've been asking every year around this time since 08, because it's never been in any next gen Madden that I've played. My guess, and strictly my guess, would be no, it's not in. It's just always seemed like one of those things that's been a low priority to them.

Now I do hope that I'm dead wrong, because there are details emerging that we had no idea about, like the new Ball Hawk feature. But if history is any indicator...





Oh, and if formation subs is in, I hope they went the extra step and put in the ability to create packages, because I found the formation subs in NCAA really limiting.

[jclentzthadon]

Re: Formation subs in?

Thx for the response.

What is the "ball hawk" feature?

[Senator Palmer]

Re: Formation subs in?

Thx for the response.

What is the "ball hawk" feature?

It's basically defensive assist 2.0. When the ball is thrown, you can hold down the Y button and your defender will move into position and go up to high point the ball.

EDIT: Here's the exact way that AJ, an EA community guy, described it.

Basically, it's kind of like the Defensive Assist button (A/X), but for making a play on a ball in the air.

When the ball is in the air, you click onto the defender - hold Y/Triangle - and it will take you to the highest point (aggressive point) and attempt to make a pick.

This does NOT replace the old use of timing your picks by tapping Y, just as defensive assist didn't replace making tackles for yourself. You can still control your player and move him to a spot exactly as you could before. This just helps the people who struggle to get their defensive players in the right spot before attempting a pick. You can still swat the ball with LB/L1.

[Hooe]

Re: Formation subs in?

This is a question I've been asking every year around this time since 08, because it's never been in any next gen Madden that I've played. My guess, and strictly my guess, would be no, it's not in. It's just always seemed like one of those things that's been a low priority to them.

This is wrong.

Formation substitutions have been a feature in Madden since M10. Making them is cumbersome in that they must be performed at the playcall screen during the formation select step, but they are most definitely there.

I believe on 360 you may perform formation subs by pressing RB at the playcall screen; I don't have Madden in front of me (sold it) and I don't remember for sure what the exact button mapping is, but this is what my Google-fu returns.

[Senator Palmer]

Re: Formation subs in?

This is wrong.

Formation substitutions have been a feature in Madden since M10. Making them is cumbersome in that they must be performed at the playcall screen during the formation select step, but they are most definitely there.

I believe on 360 you may perform formation subs by pressing RB at the playcall screen; I don't have Madden in front of me (sold it) and I don't remember for sure what the exact button mapping is, but this is what my Google-fu returns.

Yeah, I know those formation subs have been in the game. I was talking about the ones you can set without actually playing a game -- the way that NCAA has it.

I thought that's what the OP was talking about. If that isn't what the OP was referring to, my mistake.

[volstopfan14]

Re: Formation subs in?

This is wrong.

Formation substitutions have been a feature in Madden since M10. Making them is cumbersome in that they must be performed at the playcall screen during the formation select step, but they are most definitely there.

I believe on 360 you may perform formation subs by pressing RB at the playcall screen; I don't have Madden in front of me (sold it) and I don't remember for sure what the exact button mapping is, but this is what my Google-fu returns.

You can not use formation subs for any special teams plays, with the exception of field goal and punt return.

[bucknut88]

Re: Formation subs in?

Yeah, I know those formation subs have been in the game. I was talking about the ones you can set without actually playing a game -- the way that NCAA has it.

I thought that's what the OP was talking about. If that isn't what the OP was referring to, my mistake.

Yeah, being able to set the formation subs outside of games so that when you go to that formation in the game the players you want are already there. And you dont have to worry about wasting a few seconds on the play clock to flick the analog stick to the package you want.

I get what you're saying. And I like the way NCAA has it right now.

[SA1NT401]

Formation subs aren't in.

[Big FN Deal]

Re: Formation subs in?

This is shaping into one of those days where I just shake my head at some of the basic things missing from the game. The disappointing part is it all seems rooted in this notion that Madden has to be pick up and play easy, first and foremost. Pregame strategy aspects like formation subs and in-game player playbook knowledge, are a complete afterthought, with things like instant preplay adjustments and cookie cutter playbooks being the focus.

The powers that be obviously have far more interest in making a fun arcade football game for everyone than replicating enjoyable and wildly popular NFL football as closely as possible.

[pajcbanned]

Re: Formation subs in?

Personally, I hate the way NCAA does it. I love the way Madden does it. I wish NCAA did it more like Madden where you can formation sub right before the play... like in real life. In NCAA you can't do that... stupid.

[Big FN Deal]

Re: Formation subs in?

Personally, I hate the way NCAA does it. I love the way Madden does it. I wish NCAA did it more like Madden where you can formation sub right before the play... like in real life. In NCAA you can't do that... stupid.

So it sounds like the solution is for both games to have both substitution methods, not for NCAA to start doing it just like Madden or vice versa. Again this unnecessary desire from EA/Tiburon to artificially differentiate the games, instead of them sharing the same real football aspects.

[bucknut88]

Re: Formation subs in?

Personally, I hate the way NCAA does it. I love the way Madden does it. I wish NCAA did it more like Madden where you can formation sub right before the play... like in real life. In NCAA you can't do that... stupid.

Unless I'm not understanding you, you can do that. Just flick the analog stick left or right and you can do the preset formation subs like wr flip, hb sub, backup qb, etc.

[Hooe]

Re: Formation subs in?

Yeah, I know those formation subs have been in the game. I was talking about the ones you can set without actually playing a game -- the way that NCAA has it.

I thought that's what the OP was talking about. If that isn't what the OP was referring to, my mistake.

Fair point. There was a bit of ambiguity in what you said at first, which is why I responded, in an effort to clear that up.

Formation subs aren't in.

Again, the assertion that Madden does not have formation subs in any capacity is absolutely wrong. See my previous post.

[juicer420]

Re: Formation subs in?

This is one of those things that has driven me nuts the past few years. We should be able to set up all our formations without having to enter a game.

For everything, offense, defense, special teams. Once those formation substitutions are set, those act as the defaults. In game, you can make alterations to those formations for that game. And then there revert back to the default formation substitutions that you set before that game.

This is how it should be done. Simple and meets the demands of the casual and sim gamers.